Bishop reminds OFWs: Don’t bring home pork

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that they can stuff their balikbayan boxes with all the “pasalubongs” or gifts for their loved ones except processed pork products.

Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, who heads the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said they issued the reminder to help curb the spread of African swine fever.

“For safety and health reasons we inform our chaplains to persuade our OFWs neither to send nor bring home any processed meat or canned goods,” Santos said.